_The former treatise have I made_, &c. The treatise here referred to is undoubtedly the gospel, which was written by Luke, and dedicated by him to Theophilus. See note on Luke 1:1. That treatise ends, and this begins, in that important season, which reached from the resurrection of Christ to his asc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Being assembled together with them_ Namely, at Jerusalem, to which place they had gone to prepare themselves for the feast of pentecost, or rather, in obedience to Christ's command, who, after he had met them in Galilee, had appointed them to meet him there, that he might spend his last days on ear... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they, therefore, were come together_ That is, after he had led them out of the town to the mount of Olives, and was come to that part of the mountain which was above Bethany, (see Luke 24:50,) being full of expectation, that he had brought them thither with a view to some remarkable transactio... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when he had spoken these things_ Had given them these instructions; _while they beheld_ And had their eyes fixed upon him, with great earnestness and high expectation of some extraordinary event, consequent on this solemn preparation, and while they were receiving his blessing, (Luke 24:51,) _h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then returned they unto Jerusalem_ According to their Master's appointment, having first worshipped him, Luke 24:52. Here they were in the midst of enemies; but it seems, though immediately after Christ's resurrection they were watched, and were in fear of the Jews, yet after it was known that they... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they were come, they went up into an upper room_ Where they usually held their meetings. The upper rooms, so frequently mentioned in Scripture, were chambers in the highest part of the houses, set apart by the Jews for private prayer. These, on account of their being so retired and convenient,... [ Continue Reading ]
_In those days_ While they were waiting for the promise of the Spirit; _Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples_ Probably being under a peculiar divine influence on this occasion. _The number of the names_, or persons, _together_ That is, who were together in the upper room; _were a hundred and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Men and brethren_ Though our Lord never addressed the people thus, (perhaps because it would have implied an equality not suitable to the dignity of his character,) yet the apostles frequently did, when they spoke to Jews or Christians, but never when speaking to the Gentiles. This implies, that th... [ Continue Reading ]
_This man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity_ That is, a field was purchased therewith: for that reward, being restored by him to the chief priests, had been paid by them for the purchase of a field, which, in some sense, he might be said to have purchased, having supplied the money that... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore of these men which have companied with us_ Who have associated and conversed intimately with us, and attended _all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out_, &c. That is, exercised his ministry _among us_, and presided over us, and so can testify of all he did and said; _beginning fro... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they prayed_ With great seriousness and solemnity, and in faith, persuaded their prayer would be answered; _Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men_ With all the counsels, the designs, and desires thereof, with every secret sentiment of the soul, and all the future circumstances of ever... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they gave forth their lots_ That is, saith Grotius, they put two lots into two urns, the one containing the two names of Joseph and Matthias, the other a blank and the word _apostle:_ and then drawing forth the name of Joseph and the blank, they knew that the lot containing the name of an _apos... [ Continue Reading ]